Loneliness is possible even when we are surrounded by people. In today’s culture, we have more opportunities than ever to connect – we can face a family member, catch up with a video chat or reach out with a text message. Yet we often feel disconnected from others.
My guest on the podcast this week is Nick Jonsson, an executive coach and alcohol-free coach who understands the impact of loneliness. In fact, he wrote a book on the subject, ‘Executive Loneliness’. In 2018, Nick found himself stressed out, drinking too much and feeling disconnected from his family, his friends and from life. He decided to make a change and, with the help of a 12-step program, he started his sober journey. Because of the anonymity of his program, Nick recovered in secret and didn’t share openly about his new lease on life. That changed in 2019 when a good friend committed suicide. Nick realized that he had no idea his friend was struggling, and he vowed to start a brave conversation about loneliness, mental health and recovery.
Since that time, Nick has founded a non-profit to support mental health, become a certified Sober Coach and co-founded EGN, the largest peer network for executives in Southeast Asia. His impact extends through his roles as a coach, speaker, and Ironman Top 2% World Age Group Athlete.
Nick lives in Sweden and Thailand, and we touch on a variety of subjects including:
- The guidelines around alcohol in Sweden vs. the United States
- The stigma around mental health and alcohol support in Asia
- His personal support system
- The lessons he has learned in the athletic community
This conversation is both warm and inspiring; Nick is one of those unique individuals who ‘leads from behind’.
To find out more about Nick and his work, visit his website: Nick Jonsson
Or his LinkedIn profile: Nick Jonsson
